This morning I received an email that has me incensed. I’m absolutely furious. I know I tell my clients not to write when they are angry, but I just have to make an exception this time. I hate it when people compare a book to a brochure or a business card. Those items are not designed to inspire, teach or entertain. They are sales tools. If you are seriously thinking about writing a book, then take it seriously and write a seriously good book! One that stands up on its own and positions you as the real thought leader you are. A good book is a special piece of yourself that you have presented to the world.

If you noticed above, I said ‘write a book’. REAL thought leaders write their own books. They put their own thought together in their own words and that is what their readers want to read. There are several companies selling the hype of having a book and the author not having to lift a finger. And encouraging people to slap a book together and whack it out into the marketplace, as if the only thing that mattered was the book. That really annoys me. That’s why we have so many rubbish books coming into the market and cluttering it up. Don’t get me wrong – I’m a big fan of self-publishing and cooperative publishing. I think good books do deserve to be published, but I also feel strongly that any book worth doing is worth doing properly.

Be careful if you are being wooed by companies promising the world. If it sounds too good, it probably is. I know a lot of people who have been to weekend courses costing thousands of dollars, and then spent $20,000 or more, to end up with something that competes with brochures! Some spent their money and didn’t end up with a book.

Decide what kind of book you want to write and ensure you work with professionals that specialize in that kind of book. I’ve been a book coach for nearly ten years, and I have helped over 300 people make a powerful start on their books. It doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars to kick-start a book project! And you can write your own book and have the satisfaction of knowing it’s exactly what you want to say, the way you want to say it. You can do it in just 90 days (or even less – just ask me).

I’ve also helped hundreds of people through the writing process and I’ve helped them get published – over 100 now, and counting. Traditional AND self-publishing. Please don’t get duped by organizations that relegate books to the ‘sales tool’ category. And please don’t throw your hard-earned cash into schemes that are run by people who view books in that way.

A book can and will position you as an expert, but only if you write the best book you can, and only if it offers real value and something original. Something a brochure can never do.

Yesterday I watched ice melt. And I actually felt it melt. I sat on a bench made of ice in Union Square in New York. The bench was part of an art installation by a Taiwanese artist called Chin Chih Yang, who is concerned about global warming.

There were 3 or 4 benches made of ice, where you could sit – on a towel or not – and contemplate a structure made of 4 more blocks that was being measured with a yardstick. The project is aptly called Ice Emergency! As the ice melted in the hot New York sun, the levels dropped, mirroring what is happening every day at the polar ice caps. It felt good and cooled me down, but at what cost? My sitting on it was actually accelerating the melting process?

I often write and speak about people who are courageous enough to make bold statements. Well, this one hit home with me. It was so experiential. I have a photo which I will upload as soon as I can, but I wanted to share the news with you immediately.

Blocks of ice in art installation

You also have bold statements you would like to make to the world. If you don’t feel like producing a massive art installation, how else could you make as powerful an impact, with your writing or speaking?